Kangaroo Valley Voice - Lazyfish Technology

July 2008 Kangaroo Valley Voice Page 26Everything you imagine!The ShoalhavenEntertainment Centreopens on the 5 July, with avaried program of eventsand a two weekcommunity festival tomark the official openingof this twenty threemillion dollar ($23m)facility.This project represents not onlya significant investment byCouncil to provide a ‘signature’building for the Shoalhaven butalso a statement of Council’scommitment to promise andprovide for performing arts,conferencing and conventionactivity within the City.It also represents a significantmilestone in the maturation ofarts and culture in the City.Shoalhaven EntertainmentCentre is a culmination ofmany years of planning thatcommenced 1994 when Councilfirst articulated the desire toexplore a cultural centre for theCity. Since that time twoconsultants’ studies have beenundertaken along withextensive communityconsultation. The project hasbeen supported by grantfunding from the FederalGovernment ($3m) and NSWState Government ($110,000).The uniqueness of the design isthe movable floors andretractable seating. This allowsthe orchestra pit to travel from thebasement through level one, up tostage level, to effectively thrust thestage into the auditorium. The level 2floor can be lowered down to level oneto create a larger and more flexibleexhibition space in ‘flat floor mode’. Allthe seating in the venue is retractableand this allows the venue to beconverted from a theatre to anexhibition or dining venue. The twomain spaces, the studio and theauditorium, are quite separate and canhold their own functions at the sametime. The back of house facilities forperformers and stage areas have beenmade as large as possible to enable thevenue to attract major touringproductions to the Shoalhaven inpreference to other venues.“Share the Experience”July will see the grand openingof the ShoalhavenEntertainment Centre and it iscertainly opening with a varietyof excellent performances.Shoalhaven City Mayor Clr GregWatson said: “On Saturday 5 Julywe are finally opening the doors ofthe $23.5 million ShoalhavenEntertainment Centre which willpresent the some of the best touringand local performing artsattractions available. We hope thecitizens of the Shoalhaven takeadvantage of this wonderful facility.I encourage everybody to share theexperience with their familyand friends and visit theCentre in July.”This new entertainment centreboasts a huge 930 seat mainauditorium and an intimate192 seat theatre, and is set tobe packed in July when itplays host to a program ofamazing performances andtalented national andinternational stars.The Official Opening will takeplace on Saturday 5 July, aswell as five exciting specialperformances in the followingweeks by three popular acts.“On Sunday 6 July at 2pmDale Burridge and DanielleEverett, the original Australianstars of Andrew LloydGala opening night of the Shoalhaven EntWebber's musical masterpiece,Phantom of the Opera, will presenttheir spine-tingling show, Music of theNight. The show features many greathits from Freddy Mercury and Pucciniand should not be missed.” Clr Watsonadded.On Thursday and Friday 10 and 11July the great Aussie legend BarryCrocker is performing his smash hitplay, Barry Crocker’s Banjo, takingaudiences on a journey throughAustralian history and the great worksof poet Andrew ‘Banjo’ Paterson.On Friday 18 and Saturday 19 July,Katy Manning (from Dr Who) deliversan outstanding performance in Me andJezebel, the true story of Hollywoodlegend, Bette Davis.As part of the opening celebrations inJuly, the Shoalhaven EntertainmentCentre is running a “Share theexperience” promotion.Book now for Music of the Night, BarryCrocker’s Banjo or Katy Manning’s Meand Jezebel and receive one free ticketfor a friend, so you can truly “share theexperience”.For information and bookings, visit theCentre’s website,www.shoalhavenentertainment.com.au or call the Box Office on (02)4429 5757.The “Share the experience”promotion will sell out fast, so booknow to secure your place in theShoalhaven Entertainment Centre’sopening celebrations.